Lather producing machine



Jan. 24, 1950 B, CAMPBELL 2,495,441

LATHER PRODUCING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1946 1950 I A. B. CAMPBELL 2,495,441

I LA'THER PRODUCING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 24, 1950 LATHER PRODUCING MACHINE Albert B. Campbell, Chicago, Ill., 'assignor to Campbell Products 00., a corporation of Illinois Application June 5, 1946, Serial No. 674,464

9 Claims. (Cl. 259) 1 This invention relates to a lather producing machine having means for producing lather from liquid soap, and is especially adapted for the production of lather for use in bar'ber shops and other places where soap lather is Irequently desired in greater or less quantities.

The machine of the present invention is an improvement over those disclosed in my prior Patents 2,191,450, granted February 27, 1940, and 2,323,377. granted'July 6, 1943, both for "Lather producing machines.

Among the objects of the present invention are: to provide a novel and improved lather producing machine; to provide a machine of the type referred to which, when once started, is fully automatic in operation; to provide such machine requiring the use of-only one hand to start, collect the extruded lather, and stop; to provide between the liquid soap receptacle and the lathering means a valve that is automatically operated by an electrical control; to provide a valve adjusting means which when once adjusted remains so adjusted; to provide a lather producing machine having a larger soap capacity; to

provide a machine as described, which is of tion, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment,

:I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a lather producing machine embodying my invention.

the line 55 of Figure4 and showingthe motorin elevation.

' Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section on a portion of the line 5-5 of Figure 4 with the solenoid and motor being shown in elevation and the solenoid core in position for opening the valve.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit of my device.

In the form shown in the drawings, my invention comprises a housing I for enclosing the motor, the solenoid and associated parts, this housing, as shown in the left-hand half of Figure 1, having downwardly extending walls 2, 3 and side walls 4 forming a liquid soap-receiving receptacle 5. This receptacle is provided with a bottom 6 and a removable cover 1 formed with marginal flanges 8 for seating within complemental'fianges in the upper portion of the housing l. A cover I is provided with a centrally upstanding 'rib 9 to enable removal and replacement of the cover. The bottom wall 6 of the liquid receptacle is formed with an opening l0 through which extends upwardly a threaded circular flange ll of the lathering chamber l2. Screw threaded into the flange II is a threaded washer I3 having a central opening 14 forming a port upon which is normally seated the ball valve IS, the latter being urged against the port by a coil spring l6 seated between the bottom face of the ball and the upper face of the bottom wall of the cavity [1, within which the ball is movably mounted. Cavity I1 is formed in the upstanding neck 18 on the upper side of the lathering chamber wall I2, this neck at the bottom of the cavity I! having an opening I9 in alinement with the opening M of the port.

' After the spring l6 and ball l5 have been posi- 2| between the bottom face of nut 20 and the upper face of the bottom wall 6 of the liquid receptacle. This securely fastens the lathering ,chamber member to the lower face of the liquid receptacle. Asseen in Figure 5 the lathering chamber comprises an elongated cylindrical opening 22 closed at its outer end by the wall 23,

and open at its opposite end'prior to introduction thereinto of the lathering screw 24. Ex-

tending forwardly from the end wall 23 is a nozzle '25 through which lather is extruded from the lathering chamber space 22 to the outside to be received in the operators hand, as later more fully explained.

Rotatably mounted in the lathering chamber space 22 is the screw 24 which, at its right-hand end as viewed in Figure 5, is formed with a cylindrical portion 26, the exterior circumference of which, together with the exterior circumference of the threads of the screw, are of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical space 22 in the-lathering chamber.= .Th-istspace between cylinder 26 and the exteriorrof' screw threads 24, and the cylinder wall, is sufiicient to permit atmospheric air to be sucked in through.

the annular space 2'! and passed along the similar space around the exterior" of "the" screw threads.

the screw and yet prevent the liquid soap entering the lathering chamber from"escaping*rear= wardly around the cylindrical portion--of:t1;he-

screw. The amount of said space may be gov- ..erned, if desired, by the viscosity of the liquid soap. As will'be seen from Figure.i5,.the inclination of the screw threads 24. is such as to=iorce the latheringmaterial .to" the left,.as. viewed-in ure 5,. and ultimately out through the opening 'in.n0zzleg25..

The screw member 24 is rigidly fixed to arearwardly. extending. shaft 28 vwhich"riotatably protrudes through the integral portion 29 ofithemo- .torrcasingi 30... As will be. understood, shaft. 28 is concentriclwith the rotating. portion. of. the motor within the motor casing. 39., The motor being of conventional forms it will hotlbedescribedlinidetailexcept to, point out that it will rotate at'such speed. as..to give the desiredrate of rotation'to the; lather-ing screw 24. .The. motorv casing '30 isirigi'dly mounted ..to the lathering chamber niemberfby integral or other-suitable walls .31. The motor casing is .alsosuitably and rigidlymounted within ...Fixed-ly...mounted upon the upper face of the motor housing. .30 a: solenoid '32.;having' "the .winding. 33,.- which winding is suitably. connected to. electrical conductors,..as..laterr-more fullytdescribed. ,eTheseasolenoidswindings .are mounted a .upon vthe tubular .metalmemben 34 and between the annular endpiecesati, whichll'atter arefixed adjacent .the ends of tube-3 4;; .lsurroundmg'tube 3A and the end..pieces .andlwi'ndinglisia frame membertli which, jatrits right-hand.endwasviewed-in Figure A, formed: threaded aperture 31,. within which is.rotatably. mounted the. adjusting screw 38 ,havingfixed'atits inner end-the adjusting headtfl for adjustablyiserving as; a :stop .for. the. core: or .plungerillfl lot-the:

solenoidwhIn order toadjust thestopmemberijw longitudinally within the solenoid tube 34,lha've provided alock nutA-l which, whenv the threaded member 38is rotated a desired amount to position the .adj ustable .mernber...39. where -desired, .Jnay

below the fulcrum pin"44' to contact the adjacent end-:of= the longitudinally slidable" rod 451 This theadjacent t iaceroitthe' .alv ball This space is so. lpredeterminedsthat taint; may be sucked into the lath'ering ichamb'ersby:

l to push the ball laterally and slightly downwardly with relation to the port to open the same a distance depending upon the movement of the solenoid plunger 40. When the rod 45 is freed 5 from pressure by the lower end of lever 43, the ball will be returned to its seat against the port by the spring l6. Movement of the ball sideways to open the port will permit the desired limited amount of liquid soap to enter the lathering l9 "chamber- 22. Mounted to extend partially around the sides and bottom of the lathering chamber is an elecrtric heater 4'! which is embedded in an insulat- .ingmaterial 48 such as porcelain or other suit- 'ableinsula'ting material, and the elements of which heater will be heated when the plug is insorted:into::a -wall socket or the like connected to a source of electric current. The conductors for'tlrre"motor,*solenoid and the heater are at- .tache'd to suitable terminals carried by the supporting element 49. The conducting elements to the. motor and solenoid are passed through cables I5ll-and=5l and connected with a switch located in 'th'e switch' box 52,'-this' switch being normally moved-to open position'by suitable spring action -whenl-the .push rod 53; or other suitable switch controlling element; is released by the hand: of the operatorwhen adjacent the nozzle 25. This enables the motor and-solenoid to be energized -only when the push element 55of-the switch-is depressed; the motor and s'olenoid -beingdeenerized when the operator removes his hand or fingers-from the. spring-pressed pushelement 53. The cable containing the 'electric wires will pass 5% the' interior' of -the housing through arr-openingfi l .a'ndthe wires-of which will diverge and --be 'connectedto their appropriate terminals for operation of the machine under control ofthe-push but-$011.51; an or .1. Figure; 8 shows a diagrammatic wiring circuit l in which the lead-inw irs 55-and 56 are-connected to afsuitable walLplugon-the like The motor within. the-ccasing ,-3l;.is energized-through the wires M rand- 5 8 -iiwire -58 beingconnected to the solenoid coil from which thesame =extends-at 59 and is-connected with the line-0; which latter wire connects-tothe-heating-element 6t, the aircuit through the heating element being completed through the wires 62- 63- and-56; T-hisrcontinually energizestheheatingelement as long as the plug is- -inserted: into the wall: socket or other source ofaelectrical current: Wire 52, through wire '63, is also-connected 'tothe stationary -terminal 64 of the-switch fl; which switch -has the movable terminal '65 controlled by the push element 53. Pluslr element 53and-movable terminal 65 are not- :mall-yeheld inopenposition by -a=-spring arm: 66 so :that-current is only supplied to the motor-and solenoid when contact is made between-the terminals 64 and of the switch; i -==From -the:above,=theoperation of my invention willbeas :follows-zthe plug-containing the elements 55 and 56 is plugged into a wall'socket-or the like 1 which instantly energizes the electric 65 heatin element Ll'.- 'W henit' is desired to have the dat-her extruded through the *nozzle l 2 5' the push button- 53 will he depressed closing the ciricuit through thewmotcr and tlie soler-i didi- This .will start the motor in operation causing rotation 70 of -the screw-memberMimthe l'atherir'igicharnber in a direction to advancethe mixture o liquid :soapa'and air tothe left a'sviewed-in i'igu explained above, air will enter-through-thespa'ce 2 7, which a'ir will: b'e thoroughly mixed wi liquidasoap bythescrevi -forming/alather lather will be advanced to the left as seen in Figure 5. This lather will then be forced through the nozzle 25 and maybe received by the hand of the operator whose hand is simultaneously holding the push button 53 depressed to close the circuit to the motor and solenoid. Energization of the solenoid will cause the solenoid plunger 40 to be drawn thereinto'until its end strikes the stop member 39, which will move the lever 43 and cause its bottom end to push the rod 45 inwardly to unseat the ball valve from its port, thus permitting a desired amount of liquid soap to pass into the lathering chamber upon the rotating screw. 7

The amount of opening of-the port by ball valve l will be controlled by the position of adjustment of the stop 39 within the solenoid. If a greater amount of liquid soap is desired to pass into the lathering chamber, the stop 39 will be adjusted to the right, as viewed in Figure 5, thus permittin a greater travel of the solenoid plunger and a greater opening of the ball from its port. As soon as the operators hand is released from the push button 53 the spring 66 of the switch 52 will open the switch and deenergize the motor and solenoid, but permitting the energization of the heating element to continue as long as the plug is in the socket. This enables a very fine adjustment of the amount of liquid soap to be passed from the liquid receptacle into the lathering chamber, which adjustment may be regulated in accordance with the viscosity of the liquid soap.

By this construction when the operator, in a barber shop or other suitable place, wishes a handful or cupful of lather, all he has to do is walk up to the machine, press the push button 53, and hold his hand or cup below the open end of the nozzle 25 and the lather will be instantly forthcoming. The extrusion of lather will stop immediately upon release of the push button 53 for the reason that this causes the motor to be deenergized. At the same time, the solenoid will be deenergized, which will release the solenoid plunger and permit the spring It to push the ball back to its seat in the port, thus preventing further flow of liquid soap.

It is thus seen that I have provided a lather producing machine which is fully automatic in operation, requires the use of only one hand by the operator to secure lather at the nozzle outlet, is provided with a valve automatically operated by an electrical control, the amount of opening of the valve being adjustable and when once adjusted will remain so adjusted, in a machine having larger soap capacity and greater ease of operation, as well as producing a more perfect lather.

While I have referred to the lather producing and advancing member 24 as a lathering screw, I wish it understood that the same may be in the form of a screw as shown, or threads, or a spiral, or a feeder of any suitable construction, such that a sufficient amount of air will be sucked in and therealong to form a lather which will be advanced to and through the nozzle 25 when the machine is in operation.

I claim:

1. A lather producing machine comprising, a liquid soap receptacle, a lathering chamber below said receptacle, said receptacle and chamber having a passageway therebetween, a springpressed ball valve for opening and closing said valve, a motor, a motor-operated screw rotatably mounted in said chamber, and a solenoid contaneously with the energization and deenergization of the motor, and which solenoid when energized automatically opens said valve and when deenergized permits the same to close under spring action.

2. A lather producing machine as claimed in claim 1, having means in the solenoid for adjusting the amount the valve will be automatically opened when the solenoid is energized.

3. A lather producing machine comprising, a liquid lathering medium receptacle, a lathering chamber including a screw, means for rotating said screw, said receptacle and chamber having an intercommunicating passageway, a springpressed ball valve mounted over a port in said passageway, a 'rod slidably mounted to bear against one side of the ball, a solenoid, and a solenoid core for operatingv said rod to move the ball valve laterally with relation to the port when the solenoid is energized, the spring returning the valve to closed position when the solenoid is deenergized.

4. A lather producing machine comprising, a liquid soap receptacle, a lathering chamber below said receptacle, said receptacle and chamber having a passageway therebetween, a port in said passageway, a spring-pressed ball valve movable toward and away from the port, a screw in said chamber, a motor for rotating said screw, a solenoid having a core connected for opening and permitting closing of said valve, wiring having connection with the motor and solenoid and having a plug connectible with a source of electric current, a lather extruding nozzle in said chamber, and a switch in the wiring having a control portion adjacent the nozzle for operating the motor and solenoid when the control portion of the switch is pressed by the operators hand adjacent the nozzle, said wiring being connected to simultaneously energize the solenoid when the motor is energized and to simultaneously deenergize the solenoid when the motor is deenergized.

5. A lather producing machine as claimed in claim 3, including a lever between the free end of the core and the free end of the valve operating rod for moving the rod in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the core when the solenoid is energized, for controlling movement of the ball valve laterally of said port.

6. A lather producing machine comprising, a

- liquid lathering medium receptacle, a lathering chamber including a screw, means for rotating said screw, said receptacle and chamber having an intercommunicating passageway, a springpressed ball valve mounted over a port in said passageway, a rod slidably mounted to bear against one side of the ball, a solenoid, a solenoid core for operating said rod to move the ball valve laterally with relation to the port when the solenoid is energized, the spring returning the valve to closed position when the solenoid is deenergized, and adjusting means in the solenoid for adjusting the length of travel of the core for adjusting the amount of port opening movement of the valve.

7. A lather producing machine as claimed in claim 6, in which said adjusting means comprises a screw-operated-variable-stop against which the end of the core contacts when the solenoid is energized.

8. A lather producing machine comprising, a liquid soap receptacle, a lathering chamber below said receptacle, a screw rotatably mounted in said chamber, said receptacle and chamber havh i 'we said wh m dinwhen thes rg'wgis tgpipg; "said valve being I F2?miner." wes qtma s ithei zfia qn n allt mat t sacl valyeigl 'a cliyecpipn .0 9 r. w i eni Y means being operable ating a a v ein a terglly qr said passageway, v. $1 1 qqn ql i e mou 'HiSmQW a erall -Dim pa w y.

' I APEVRTB-CAMBBELL- The following references are of recordili the TE BAILENTS v lfimgper Name. Date 11,182,095 Nov; 18, J. 9;30 

